Monastery of Gorgoepikoos (Geelong, Victoria)

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Holy Monastery of Gorgoepikoos
Jurisdiction GOA Aus
Type Female Monastery
Founded 1993
Superior Abbess Kallistheni
Approx. size 5 nuns
Location Geelong, Victoria, Australia
Liturgical language(s) Greek, English
Music used Byzantine Chant
Calendar Revised Julian
Feastdays celebrated Jan 2 (Chapel)
Oct 1 (Monastery)
Official website none advertised


The Holy Monastery of Panagia Gorgoepikoos (She who is Quick to Hear) is a monastic community for women under the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia. The monastery is located in Lovely Banks, Geelong, Victoria, and was established under the omophorion of His Eminence Archbishop Stylianos of Australia in May 1993 by Mother Kallistheni, who remains the abbess. Currently, the monastery has 4 nuns (Sister's Makrina, Nikodimi and Natalia including the abbess, Mother Kallistheni) and a novice, all of whom speak fluent English.

The monastery is situated approximately one hour, by car, from Melbourne and is close to the seaside suburb of Geelong. Initially the Monastery stoon on 17 acres of land but recent land purchases have allowed for growth extending the property size to 20 acres. This growth has allowed the monastery to purchase bees to produce their own honey, a donkey and 2 alpakas.

To create privacy for the monastery, Cox Road, running outside the Monastery, has recently been closed off - an initiative instigated by Mother Kallistheni, Abbess of the Monastery.

History of the Monastery

Monastery of Panagia Gorgoepikoos - Geelong

Much of the initial capital for the Monastery was donated from the Zantis family of Goulburn. The majority of this donation was from Mother Kallistheni's father, Angelo Zantis (deceased), and Mother Kallistheni herself (Nowedays, this is information that you will never hear from the Abbess herself.

First Abbess of the monastery - Mother Kallistheni

Mother Kallistheni was born "Kalomira" (nickname Corrine) and raised in Goulburn (NSW, Ausrtralia). Her fathers name was Angelo Zantis and her mother is Nina. She has two other siblings, Sheridan and Peter.

Her genealogical tree shows that her grandfather was a village priest in the province of Karavas (Kythera, Greece). He was a priest and schoolmaster for four decades and is affectionately known as "Papa Vangelli", by the Kytherian community, and was married to previtera Stamatia. Most Kytherians today aged between 60 and 100 and living in Australia or the USA would more than likely have been christened by her great-grandfather. Papa Vangelli had 8 children-

Peter, Harry, Theodoros, Georgitsa, Maria, Kanella, Kalomira and Louisa.
Kalomira married Sarandos Zantiotis and had 4 children.
George (deceased), Jim, Maria and Angelo (deceased)
Angelo married Nina Souris, from Armidale and are the parents of Mother Kallistheni.

Programme for members of the Public

Pilgrims can visit the monastery daily (except Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays) and are able to attend the services chanted by the sisters.

  • Monday: Open between 2-5pm on School and Public holidays.
  • Tuesday: Open between 9am and 5pm.
9am Divine Liturgy.
  • Wednesday: Closed.
  • Thursday: Open between 9am and 5pm.
3pm Vespers.
  • Friday: Closed.
  • Saturday: Open between 9am and 5pm.
3pm Paraklesis.
Monthly: 8am Matins in Greek and English, 9am Divine Liturgy in English. (Timetable)
  • Sunday: Open between 2-5pm.
3pm Paraklesis.
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External links


Australasia.gif
Orthodoxy in Australia: Monasteries
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia
Male: Pantanassa | St George | St John
Female: Gorgoepikoos | Holy Cross
Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia
Male: Holy Transfiguration | Archangel Michael
Proph. Elias | St John the Baptist | Holy Trinity
Female: Our Lady of Kazan | Presentation
Other Jurisdictions
Male: New Kalenic (Serbian) | St Sava (Serbian)
Female: St Anna (Antiochian) | Nativity Skete (Serbian)